So, you do you.
By Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
Centralia, Missouri
December 11, 2015 10:04pm CST
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” - Oscar Wilde
When I was young my father once looked at me, shook his head and told someone that he swore I marched to the beat of a drum nobody else could hear. I didn't really understand what he meant at the time, but it stuck with me. He was right, I have done that very thing since I was little. Yes, I want to be part of the group. I want to be liked, loved, accepted, to belong....but.... I will not change who I am to be liked. Sometimes a part of me wishes it was easier for me to conform... I might be less lonely, I might be more popular....
But I won't.
Sometimes I think actually I can't.
And really, since being me impinges on no one, and harms none, why should I have too? I shouldn't. Nor should I...nor should WE be ashamed to be who we are. People can like us or not. Conformity is not for us.
So you do you. Be as crazy and odd, and eccentric as you want. Wear purple spotted shirts with canary yellow pants, although I might stare at you in horror, lol. Be the person dancing like no one can see. Don't be afraid to swing again, to wonder, to color, to rediscover you.
24 people like this
21 responses
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Dec 15
My daughter is like that, and I couldn't be more proud of her for being who she is! At least I know I don't have to worry about her following the wrong crowd, because she doesn't follow any crowd! She leads her own crowd! lol
6 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Dec 15
I am glad she has found a crowd of like minded people!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160721)
• United States
12 Dec 15
I think it is time to be me again. The world is better for honest people.
5 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Dec 15
being a honest person is hard, people don't like the honest truth. I know I can't always face it, I suppose if you are able to temper that honesty with compassion it might be more palatable.
3 people like this
@ataboy (737)
• United States
12 Dec 15
I am often shunned for being honest, @Jessicalynnt, but I prefer it sometimes. At least I know I'm me! What else do I have but my reputation for honesty. Or so that's my opinion! I DON'T purposely offend others, but I would prefer someone, a friend tell me I'm acting like an idiot or I have a "kick me" sign on my back then try to appease me! No? I treat others the same way.
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
12 Dec 15
I swear we must be twins but many years apart..hahah..
I was the 4th daughter so you can imagine how much i was liked, so i always did my own thing wherever and whenever..my older sisters weren't allowed to wear makeup or stockings, so guess who did and got punished but helped them?..they weren't allowed to go to parties..so guess who did and got punished?..i could tell you more but i'm sure you could guess who was the black sheep or who was the rebellious one..heck i was never going to get things done if i didn't do it to test it out..right?..hahah
3 people like this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
12 Dec 15
@marlina i was the baby till 7 years later my only brother came and then i totally disappeared..hahah
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Dec 15
I am the oldest, and always super independent even as a toddler. and maybe so! lol, I think kindred souls really are a thing. 
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (167211)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Dec 15
Being the real person that we are can be hard. Especially when our peers are pulling us in other ways. I can be so easy to just go with the flow. But, to really enjoy what fate wants for us have to take our own path. It's more fun anyway.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (167211)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Dec 15
@Jessicalynnt ...Because it was easier to control them that way.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Dec 15
I completely agree, people out there seem to fear those who walk their own route, they want and need everyone to conform, I never understood why
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Dec 15
@ataboy Oh I have been a journalist at one point, and I do write, just never tried to be published, job right now is not one that encourages or needs creativity, and I miss that and the writing.
1 person likes this
@ataboy (737)
• United States
12 Dec 15
Interesting...very interesting!...I'll keep that in mind, @Jessicalynnt. At times
I might be called a 'talent seeker', so you never know what I might consider. You're clearly witty and creative by any stretch of the imagination. Worth far more than $10-20 a month! But I don't fancy myself on pulling people from what they like to turn a buck! You have a talent - Bravo my dear!
@ataboy (737)
• United States
12 Dec 15
@simone10 Hey, that's really weird, I've always been me too! By the way, what's a life where everyone fits in? Bland doesn't even begin to describe such a life! Fit-out not 'in' please! Maybe I'll recognize you. I often wonder how many people's eyes are sown shut. I dream that shout at them and they just slowly nod. Then I realize how sad it is. I'm saying to stand out for the sake of standing out. Just do as you seem to have learned...be yourself - I'll see you standing out in the crowd anyways!
@Jessicalynnt I love that line..."towing the line." I don't know why but it's just one of those things that I appreciate as a lyricist! I've been towing this line for far too long...I hand it to 'you'...you do "gotta' do you." You just gotta'. What a awe inspiring title! What do you do with all that seemingly simple and subtle talent in the linguistics department? I surely hope something! Something MORE I should say... Talent, you have! That I cannot question. And sometimes it's in the most subtle phrases. Kudos, Jessa!
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Dec 15
so do you? or are you going to try?
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
12 Dec 15
@Jessicalynnt They way I figure it is this.......... If you pay my bills you can tell me what to do. If you don't then leave me alone. You don't like me or the way I am that's cool again leave me alone, I certainly won't bother you.
1 person likes this
@ataboy (737)
• United States
12 Dec 15
I believe it's "Hear hear", @fishtiger58! But I encourage you to say it however you like....as that IS the entire point of this post, right!
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
10 Jan 16
We are all different in our own ways, maybe you were marching to the right beat and everyone else was wrong.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Jan 16
lol naw, I was beating to the music in my head, I was fine, mostly, walking my own path
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
12 Jan 16
@Jessicalynnt Sometimes thats the best path to follow.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
12 Dec 15
being yourself is the wisest thing anyone can do or be. Love the shoes photo. Shame you lost them.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Dec 15
puppy. He is pretty much the root of every shoe loss ever. I plan on replacing them soon. I need to get another of my special insoles for my plantar fasciitis and get them in slippers for running around at home (hate shoes), so plan on looking for another pair of crazy shoes to put them in
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Dec 15
See, I mostly don't mind not being like that. I usually like being a bit odd and different. I just get tired of being lonely
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Dec 15
I was looking for inspiration, and bouncing off a quote is always a good route, This one just spoke to me, it's a strong statement.
1 person likes this
@Pattitude (1287)
• Newton, North Carolina
15 Dec 15
It took me many years to learn not to conform to others. In doing so, I was not all that I could be. And one day, I woke up and said, no more!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
15 Dec 15
yeah this sometimes can take some years to understand and be able to do
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Dec 15
I need to find me a new pair to replace these!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
13 Dec 15
@just4him sounds quite fun! I am not sure what I will get this time around
1 person likes this
@just4him (317090)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
13 Dec 15
@Jessicalynnt I had a pair of sock monkey slippers a few years ago. I wore them out.
1 person likes this
@ataboy (737)
• United States
12 Dec 15
BTW @Jessicalynnt : Me love them slippers! Where on God's greenish earth did you happen across them? 
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Dec 15
you might be surprised what payless online has, lol
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
13 Dec 15
@ataboy hahaha, I guess I just don't shop IRL much, easier to have the net bring things to my door
1 person likes this
@ataboy (737)
• United States
13 Dec 15
@Jessicalynnt LOL! Actually, you'd be surprised how many stores that sell shoes the average guy gets 'dragged to' in the interest of love! 
But nice score!
But nice score! 1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
12 Dec 15
Every since I was stomped on by a guy in the 80's I grew a backbone and became my own person. I might make a few enemies (but who doesn't) but I will always be my own person and I will always tell it like it it.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Dec 15
Im actually a bit more reserved than before my stomping relationship, but that's more the panic attacks and such limiting me.
@QualityCheck1 (8)
• United States
13 Dec 15
I have always been myself and never given in to peer pressure to be someone I was not. I had enough friends and they were true friends. I remember all through private grade school I had two best friends. It was always the three of us hanging out. Then I think it was about 7th or 8th grade when the two of them got into a big fight during a school lock in. One was more popular than the other. Seeing as how I knew the one would have more people to back her up because of her popularity, I stuck up for the other one. In the end it didn't matter. They made up and I was forgotten. In the end popularity and outside influences got in the way and they were no longer my true friends. I was left behind as popularity became what was important to them as we were about to enter a public high school. Popularity seemed an unnecessary evil (I saw how I got left behind by my alleged two best friends) and I wanted no part in it. You can't really be popular AND stand up for the less fortunate. Once in high school someone befriended me and her best friend became my best friend as well. I was part of a trio once again. We were never part of any designated group and it felt great not to be labeled and expected to dress or act a certain way. We could be whoever and whatever we wanted on any given day! I remain true to myself to this very day and it is a great feeling!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
13 Dec 15
If I could like something twice I would like this. Isn't it sad that "You can't really be popular AND stand up for the less fortunate." It really shouldn't be this way. And really, popular for what? Big fish in a high school pond? I look back now and realize it meant nothing whatsoever.
1 person likes this
